Transcript The Hispanic Culture of Mexico

The Hispanic Culture of Mexico
By:
Kate Conger
Jennifer Joyner
Demographics
• Mexico contains 2/3 of overall Hispanic
culture
• 3 major subgroups of Hispanic culture
• Mexico
• Puerto Rico
• Cuba
Culture in Mexico: Religion
• Majority are Catholic, with an
• Increasing presence of Pentecostals
• Health is a gift from God
• Prevention of Illness is an accepted practice
• Accomplished with prayer
• Wearing of religious medals or amulets
• Keeping relics in the home
• Visiting shrines with offerings and lighting candles
Culture in Mexico: Health & Medicine
• Individuals turn to family, especially elders,
when sick
• Based on Aztec beliefs of balance and
supernatural powers
• Balance
• 4 Humors
•
•
•
•
Blood
Phlegm
Black Bile
Yellow Bile
• Hot and Cold
• “Hot” treats “cold”
• “Cold” treats “hot”
Culture in Mexico: Health & Medicine
• Supernatural Powers
• Healers of Mexico
• Curanderas
Culture in Mexico: Health & Medicine
• Quality of Healthcare is comparative to United
States
• Most physicians get training in U.S.
• Privatized healthcare for those who can afford
it
• Public healthcare subsidized based on
employment status
• Preventative care is often neglected
Culture in Mexico: Ideas about Healthcare
• Most Latin Americans see thinness as a
problem and plumpness as the ideal
• Hispanic men expect to be waited on in
sickness AND in health
Health Concerns of Obesity & Type II Diabetes
• # 2 Worldwide in Obesity
• 24%
• 205 McDonalds Restaurants
• Consumption of soda has 60% over 14 yrs
• Leading cause of death is cardiovascular
disease
• 10 Mil out of 100 mil (total pop.) has diabetes
• About 67,000 deaths a year
• Diabetes Type II affects 10% of its
population in ages over 20. It affects 2530% in ages over 50.
Culture in Mexico: Diet and Nutritive Sources
• Blend of Indian and Spanish
• Major Cooking Methods
• Stovetop
• Stewing
• Frying with fats or oils
• Corn (Maize) is the basis
• Chicken, Pork > Beef
• Seafood common in coastal areas
Culture in Mexico: Diet and Nutritive Sources
• Inexpensive food items
•
•
•
•
Corns
Rice
Beans
Peppers
• Cheese and eggs round out meal
• Foods are high in carbohydrates but NOT
processed carbohydrates
• Other items found in Hispanic diet:
• Squash, papaya, pineapple, plantains, sweet potatoes and
yams, guava, lime, avocado, Serrano and jalapeño
peppers, tomatoes and tomatillos, cilantro, vinegar, garlic,
onions, oregano, vanilla, and chocolate
A Typical Meal
• Desayuno (Breakfast)
• Coffee
• Sweet rolls and/or eggs
• Comida (Lunch)
• Between the hours of 1pm and 3pm
• Largest meal
• Soup, meat dish, rice, tortillas, coffee, and
dessert or fruit
• Cena (Suppper)
• Usually after 9pm and is a light meal
Nutrition
• Soak Maize in lime-water solution
• Helps calcium and Niacin to become more bioavailable
• Grinding stones used to prepare the tortillas
provide Iron and Zinc
• Beans
•
•
•
•
B Vitamins
Magnesium
Folate
Fiber
• Tomatoes and Limes
• Vitamin C
• Papaya, Squash, Melon, Mango & Sweet Potatoes
• Carotenoids
So where does the Obesity and Diabetes come from?
• Acculturation
• Changing nature of diet
• Fueled by globalization and urbanization
• Increased use of animal products and processed
foods
• Large amounts of sugar, refined flour, and
hydrogenated fat
• More than twice as likely to drink whole milk,
but less likely to drink low-fat or skim milk
• Decline in the intake of whole grains, fruit, and
vegetables
• Adoption of a more sedentary lifestyle
What Can Be Done?
• More physical activity
• Use healthier methods of
cooking like broiling or
baking
• Do not eat past 7pm
• Avoid the processed foods
• Take heed to preventative
care
• Avoid frescos, drinks made
of fruit syrup, water, and
sugar
• Drink low-fat or skim milk
• Cook with healthier oils
such as corn or vegetable oil
• Increase whole grains, fresh
fruits and vegetables!
• Portion Control
• Avoid fast foods like
McDonalds
References
•
•
•
•
•
•
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/22/world/la-fg-mexico-obesity20100423
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_Mexico
http://socyberty.com/religion/cultural-diversity-mexican-beliefstowards-medicine-and-illness/#ixzz1HdlAwkrN
Central Americans and Mexicans, Diets of - calcium, food, nutrition,
body, diet, health, protein, fat, nutrients, vitamin, amino, acids, water,
vitamins, habits, Traditional Dietary Habits
http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ca-De/Central-Americans-andMexicans-Diets-of.html#ixzz1HdqYVv15
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/88951.php
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity